PITTSBURGH — It’s a lousy statistic in a lost season, but the Pittsburgh Penguins did Saturday what they’ve done better than almost any team in recorded NHL history: first shot, first goal against.
Though, to be fair to their goalie Alex Nedeljkovic, surrendering a breakaway to David Pastrnak within the first couple of minutes is daring the hockey gods. And the Penguins aren’t good enough to dare anybody.
A 3-2 loss to the Boston Bruins at PPG Paints Arena was their fourth in five games since the NHL’s break for the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament. The Penguins are closer to the bottom of the Eastern Conference than its second wild-card spot — and their points percentage is better than only four teams in the league.
The NHL trade deadline is Friday. The NHL Draft Lottery’s date is to be determined.
Still, for the first time since captain Sidney Crosby’s rookie season — or five American presidential elections ago — fans of the Penguins can look to the latter with more anticipation than the former.
It’s again all about the ping-pong balls in Pittsburgh. But back to that first shot/first goal allowed trend, which is beckoning history.
Only the 2012-13 Philadelphia Flyers’ 14 such goals are more than the 13 allowed by these Penguins, who are tied with the 2017-18 Edmonton Oilers for the second most in a single season. The NHL’s official statistics department said team records for goals allowed on the first shot date to 2009-10.
Absolutely cookin’ 🍝 pic.twitter.com/gyjrPkFT5E
— Boston Bruins (@NHLBruins) March 1, 2025
Nedeljkovic agreed Saturday with a reporter who noted those types of goals “happen different ways,” but he eloquently expounded upon a larger issue with the Penguins: poor starts in general.
“I think for a majority of them it’s just about starting on time — for everybody,” Nedlejkovic said. “Some things are preventable, some things just happen; that’s hockey, right? Shots are going to go in, get deflected, go off guys, we’re going to have bad bounces, pucks go over sticks or whatever it is, and they end up with good looks.
“We need to find a better way of starting on time, playing with a little bit more emotion from the get-go, and I don’t think you’ll see those type of things happen.”
To his credit, Nedeljkovic did not exclude himself from the mix of those who should be better at the beginning of games. It’s a long list, one that hockey president and general manager Kyle Dubas and coach Mike Sullivan will find names familiar and (likely) on the outs during season-ending meetings.
“Doesn’t matter if it’s a breakaway, what the shot or situation is — I’ve got to be ready,” Nedeljkovic said. “That’s my job.
“We need to just find a better way of starting on time, playing with more detail at the beginning of the game, get back to just playing simple hockey, detailed, and honestly just winning.”
Winning won’t come easily for the Penguins over the final weeks of what will be a third consecutive season without qualification for the Stanley Cup playoffs, barring something unearthly between now and mid-April. Fifteen of their final 20 remaining games are against teams that were either in possession or within 4 points of a postseason spot as of Saturday.
That makes for more than enough opportunities to raise the bar — or should it be lower the bar? — on the first shot/first goal allowed record.
“With smarter play, more purposeful play, we don’t give up those types of opportunities,” Sullivan said. “The common theme is we need more purposeful play so that we’re harder to play against.”
Three observations from this loss:
Another awful trend
This loss was the Penguins’ sixth in as many afternoon games. Their goal differential in those games is minus-19.
A reasonable person could argue that one of the league’s older rosters is prone to struggling in early starts. However, the Penguins were the NHL’s eldest roster the last two seasons, and they went 7-5-2 in afternoon games.
The Penguins host the Toronto Maple Leafs at 1 p.m. on Sunday. That is one of their five remaining afternoon games.
Anthony Beauvillier and the block
Dubas’ signing of veteran Anthony Beauvillier confounded a lot of people during the offseason, but the move might rank as his shrewdest. Beauvillier scored his 13th goal Saturday. Only Rickard Rakell, Bryan Rust and Crosby have scored more for the Penguins.
Those three players get power-play looks. Beauvillier rarely does, and all of his goals have come at even strength.
“He plays hard, he competes, plays any role you ask him to,” Sullivan said. “He’s at the top of our list in terms of five-on-five goal production, more so than other guys. He doesn’t always play in the top six.
“He uses his speed. He competes hard. He has some finishing capability. We’ve started to work him in on the penalty kill.
“He just embraces any role you give him.”
On a cap-friendly and expiring contract, Beauvillier is a veteran of 55 postseason games. He’s scored 16 goals and 31 points in the playoffs.
Dubas long ago informed GM peers that he’s open for business before the trade deadline. Beauvillier is unlikely to bring much in return, but he’s the type of versatile forward who probably would provide a depth upgrade for any contender.
Rickard Rakell still streaky
Although Rakell has been their most consistent goal producer this season, he remains streaky. His late power-play goal Saturday was only his third in 14 games.
This stretch came on the heels of Rakell’s scoring 17 goals in 27 games from Nov. 19 to Jan. 17.
Dubas is not set on moving Rakell by the trade deadline. He will want at least a first-round pick, which might prove a steep price for a player who has played in only two postseason games since 2018. Also, Rakell is 31 and has three seasons remaining on a contract that counts $5 million annually against the salary cap.
It’s not unreasonable to think Rakell might need to score in upcoming games against the Maple Leafs and on the road versus the Vegas Golden Knights and Colorado Avalanche to boost his value to the point Dubas will trade him before the deadline.
(Photo of David Pastrnak and Anthony Beauvillier: Charles LeClaire / Imagn Images)
